Over the years, I have had the opportunity to drive many LX vehicles at Blackberry Farm, in Walland, TN. One of the LX models (470, or 570?) had an IR viewing system installed.

Just got my 2013 LX-570, and that was no longer a US option.

I got it on my wife's 2010 MB AMG S sedan, and though she's only used it about 6 times, with the dust storms in Arizona, and the "dark sky" neighborhoods here, it shows pedestrians, bicyclists and animals very, very well. If it shows up one unseen creature, it has paid for itself.

When was that option removed from the US Lexus LX models?

Just curious,

Hunt

 

someone can correct me, but i don't think the option was around since the current model debut in 08?

 

Yes, since the current model came out in 2008, the option on previous LX470 was discontinued and not carried over to the current LX570.

 

There are a lot of options not in the LX that should be in there as Lexus's top of the line model, another 2 sorely missing is a blind spot monitor which every big SUV has even Toyotas such as the Sequoia and a HUD. For close to 90K, get rid of the cooler in the center console and put some basic luxury features in there.

 

Folk,

Thank you for the replies. Trying to reconstruct my experience with the Lexus IR viewing, and think that it was about the 2004 - 2005 model.

I also agree q00% on the blind-spot warning. My wife's MB S-classes have had that for years, and it is great.

After I have a few miles on the LX, I plan on doing a mini-review, and one aspect will be what did MB do better on the S-class autos, and where did Lexus beat them, with the LX-5770. Right now, and in my mind, it is about 50 - 50 If I remove the cost of all the AMG stuff from the MB, the two units are priced in a similar fashion, though are obviously different vehicles, with different purposes.

Again, thank you,

Hunt

 

i have ir on my '06 and would have tosay that for $2,200.00 it was pretty underwhelming. cant imagine anyone who had that option would get it again, i certainly wouldnt.

 

While I saw the option, I never put it to use on the LX-570. However, I got it on my wife's MB, because she has to drive at night from events, that are in "dark sky" neighborhoods, and many of the walkers and bicyclists do not seem concerned at wearing dark clothes, with little to no lighting, and like to be in the middle of narrow, winding roads. We also have a bunch of wildlife. So far, it has performed well. On-coming headlights can be an issue with it, but it's still been worth the $ on her car.

Sorry to hear that the Lexus version did not live up to its potential.

Thank you for that info.

Hunt

 

I had this on my l;ast LX470 before I purchased my first 570.

It was kinda an add on to the dash in front of the driver and I tried it multiple times but found little use for it.

Maybe in a dust storm . . . .

 

By IR, do you mean "night vision"? That is what Lexus calls it. Never offered on any year of the 570. Only on a few of the later m/y 470.

 

By "IR," I mean infrared night vision. My wife's MB S-550 AMG has that, and it works very well, in "dark sky" environments.

Hunt